It was nightagain. That small Salvation Army group was parading and singing. A young girl would soon start a long oration against drink. Now boys, gawking as boys always do, saw a shadowy form of a man slinking along from doorway to doorway, plainly watching this marching group, but also, plainly trying to stay out of sight. A halt, a song or two, and Mary Antor was soon walking towards Old Lady Flanagan's cabin. But!! In passing big, dark City Park, a man, rushing wildly up, wrapping that frail form in a cast-iron grip, planting kiss upon kiss upon Mary's lips, finally unwound that grip and stood stiffly in military saluting position. Mary, naturally in a bad fright, took a short, anxious, inquiring look, and instantly, all that part of City Park actuallyrangwith a wild girlish cry:—
"Norman!!!"
"Hulloa, kiddo! Just got in, half an hour ago, on a small troop train; and, by luck, saw you marching in that group.Wow!!But you do lookgrand!"
"And you look grand, too, Norman; but—but—but—not drunk?"
"No, sis! Not for many a day now. Saw too much of it in camp. Big, grand, corking good chaps down and out from it. Days and days in jail, military jail, you know, and finally finding a 'bad conduct' stamp on Company books. No, sir; I'm off it,for good!"
* * * *
On old Lady Flanagan's porch Mary sat way past midnight with, no, not with Norman, only, but withtwokhaki-clad boys; and it was miraculous that that small, loving childish bosom could hold so much joy! Old Lady Flanagan in nightgown and cap, looking down a front stairway, (and Old Man Flanagan, also in nightgown and cap, and also looking down), said:—
"Arrah!! Gowanoop stairs, you snoopin' varmit!"
"Who'sa snoopin' varmint? Notyou, of——"
"Go wan oop, I say! By golly! That darlin' girl has found a mountain of gold wid Norman an'——"
"Who's that wid Norman? That guy's around, nights, now, as—"
"Say, you!! Do you go oop? Or do I swat you?"
Bill Gadsby, goingabroad, naturally wasn't on that ballot for Councilman Antor's chair; but this history shows that that mouthy antagonist who had had so much to say about "pink satin ribbons" and "vanilla sprays," didn't win. No. A first class man got that position; old Tom Young, Sarah's Dad, as good an old soul as any in all Branton Hills. And was Sarah happy! Oh, my! And was Sarah proud! Two "oh, mys!" Tiny Nancy, loyal as always to Bill, said:—
"Bill was as good as in, for nobody, knowing my Bill would ballot against him; and Bill would hold that honor now, but for 'Old Glory's' calling."
That's right, Nancy darling, you stick up for Bill; for, though Bill didn't know it until many months, a citation "for outstanding and valorous conduct in action" was soon to go through our National Printing Plant! For a "city fop" or an "outdoor part of a tailor shop" is not always a boob, you know.
Gadsby's mansion was again brightly aglow that night, that "World War flag" not hanging in his window now. And so, on Labor Day night,Lady Gadsby and His Honor, sitting in his parlor, thought that a light footfall was sounding out on his porch. As Gadsby got up to find out about it, Julius, coming in with a young girl, stood looking, grinningly, at Lady Gadsby; who, jumping up, said, happily:—
"Why! Mary Antor!!"
"No, Ma," said Julius. "This is not Mary Antor."
"Not Mary Antor? Why, Julius, I think I know M——"
"Not Mary Antor, Ma, but Mary Gadsby!"
"Oh! Oh! Mydarlinggirl!!" and half crying and half laughing, Mary was snuggling in Lady Gadsby's arms; and His Honor, coming in, saying:—
"By golly! That young cuss, Cupid, is mighty busy around this town! Why, I can hardly walk two blocks along Broadway, without a young girl, who has 'grown up in a night,' stopping, and saying: 'Mayor Gadsby, this is my husband.' But I'll say that Cupid's markmanship has always brought about happy matings. And, Mary, you darling kid, your sad, dark shadows will gradually pass; and Lady Gadsby and I will try to bring you loads and loads of comfort. But, say, you, Julius! I didn't know that you and Mary——"
"Ho, ho" said Mary, laughing. "Didn't you know that Julius and Norman and I sat out nights on old Lady Flanagan's porch?"
"Why, no; how should I? I don't go snooping around anybody's porch."
"Ha, ha, Dad," said Julius; "no snooping would findthatout. Mary and I had had this plan so long ago that I didn't know a World War was coming!"
As a smallboy, your historian was told that "A king was in his counting room, a-counting out his cash," or similar words, which told, practically, of his taking account of stock. So, also, Gadsby was on his thinking-porch, a-thinking of his past. (A mighty good thing to do, too; if anybody should ask you!)
"If," said His Honor, "you can't find any fun during childhood, you naturally won't look for it as you grow up to maturity. You will grow 'hard,' and look upon fun as foolish. Also, if you don't furnish fun for a child, don't look for it to grow up bright, happy and loving. So, always put in a child's path an opportunity to watch, talk about, and know, as many good things as you can."
Lady Gadsby, from a parlor window, said:
"Practicing for a stumping tour, or a political pow-wow?"
"Ha, ha! No. Just thinking out loud."
So, as thinking cannot hurt anybody, His Honor was soon going on:—
"Affairs which look small or absurd to a full-grown man may loom up as big as a mountain to a child; and you shouldn't allow a fact that yousaw a thing 'so much that I am sick of it,' to turn you away from an inquiring child.Youwasn't sick of it, on that far-past day on which you first saw it. I always look back, happily and proudly, to taking a small girl to our City Florist's big glass building; to a group at our Night Court; a group finding out about dispatching our mail; and our circus! Boy! Thatwasfun! Our awarding diplomas at City Hall; tiny Marian at our airport's inauguration; our Manual Training School graduation.Allthat did a big lot toward showing Youth that this big world is 'not half bad,' if adults will but watch, aid, and coach. And Iwill notstand anybody's snapping at a child! Particularly a tiny tot. If you think that youmustsnap, snap at a child so big as to snap back. I don't sanction 'talking back' to adults, but, ha, ha! Ididfind a grand, bigwallopin Marian's April Fool cigar! Woo!DidOld Bill jump!! But that did no harm, and a sad young mind found a way to 'match things up' with an antagonist. Now, just stand a child up against your body. How tall is it? Possibly only up to your hip. Still, a man,—or an animalthinkingthat it is a man—will slap, whip, or viciouslyyankan arm of so frail, so soft a tiny body!Thatis whatIcall acoward!!By golly! almost acriminal!If a tot is what you call naughty, (and nochild voluntarily is,) why not lift that young body up onto your lap, and talk—don't shout—about what it just did? Shouting gains nothing with a tot. Man can shout at Man, at dogs, and at farm animals; but a man who shouts at a child is, at that instant,sinking in his own muck of bullyism; and bullyism is a sin, if anything in this world is. Ah!Youth!You glorious dawn of Mankind! You bright, happy, glowing morning Sun; not at full brilliancy of noon, I know, but unavoidably on your way!Youth!How I do thrill at taking your warm, soft hand; walking with you; talking with you; but, most important of all,laughingwith you!Thatis Man's pathway to glory. A man who drops blossoms in passing, will carry joy to folks along his way; a man who drops crumbs will also do a kindly act; but a man who drops kind words to a sobbing child will find his joy continuing for many a day; for blossoms will dry up; crumbs may blow away; but a kind word to a child may start a blossom growing in that young mind, which will so far surpass what anunkindly man might drop, as an orchid will surpass a wisp of grass. Just stop a bit and look back at your footprints along your past pathway. Did you put many humps in that soil which a small child might trip on? Did you angrily slam a door, which might so jolt a high-strungtot as to bring on nights and nights of insomnia? Did you so constantly snarl at it that it don't want you around? In fact, did you putanythingin that back-path of yours which could bring sorrow to a child? Or start its distrust of you, as its rightfulguardian? If so,go backright now, man, andfixup such spots by kindly acts from now on. Or,jump into a pond, and don't crawl out again!!For nobody wants you around!"
Lady Gadsby, as this oration was wafting off amongst lilac shrubs, and across soft, warm lawns, had sat, also thinking; finally coming out onto that ivy-bound porch, and sitting down by His Honor, saying:—
"That was just grand, John, but I was thinking along a path varying a bit from that. You know that Man's brain isactuallyall of him. All parts of his body, as you follow down from his brain, act simply as aids to it. His nostrils bring him air; his mouth is for masticating his food; his hands and limbs furnish ability for manipulation and locomotion; and his lungs, stomach and all inward organs functiononlyfor that brain. If you look at a crowd you say that you saw lots of folks: but if you look at a man bathing in a pond; and if that man sank until only that part from his brow upward was in sight, you might say that you sawnobody; only a man's scalp. But you actually saw aman, for a man is only as big as that part still in sight. Now a child's skull, naturally, is not so big as a man's; so its brain has no room for all that vast mass of thoughts which adult brains contain. It is, so to say, in a small room. But, as days and months go by, that room will push its walls outward, and that young brain gradually fill up all that additional room. So, looking for calm, cool thinking in a child is as silly as looking for big, juicy plums amongst frail spring blossoms. Why, oh,whydon't folks think of that?Youknow what foolish sounding things Julius was always asking, as a child. 'How can just rubbing a match light it?' 'Why is it dark at night?' 'Why can't a baby talk?' But, you and I, John, didn't laugh at him. No, not for an instant. Andnowlook at our Julius and our Kathlyn; both famous, just through all that asking; and our aid. John, Godcouldput Man into this world, full-grown. But God don't do so; for God knows that, without a tiny hand to hold, a tiny foot to pat, tiny lips to kiss, and a tiny, warm, wriggling body to hug, Man would know nothing but work."
Gadsby sat smoking for a bit, finally saying:—
"Darling, that pair of robins up in that bigoak with four young, and you and I in this big building, also with four, know all about what you just said; and, and,—hmmm! It's almost midnight." And His Honor's mansion was soon dark; bathing in soft moonlight.
Practically allBranton Hills was talking about Councilman Simpkins; for Councilman Simpkins just didn't look natural; and Councilman Simpkins didn'tactnatural. In fact, Councilman Simpkins was crawling out of his old cocoon; and, though an ugly, snarlingdowdyworm had lain for so long, shut up in that tight mass of wrappings around his brain,nowa gay, smiling moth was coming out; for Councilman Simpkins was "dolling up!"
If Bill Gadsby was known as a "tailor-shop's outdoor part," Old Bill was notapart. No, Old Billwasthat tailor shop—outdoor, indoor, or without a door. In fact, Councilman Simpkins now had "it," such as our films talk about so much today.
But Simpkins' outfit was not flashy or "loud." Suits of good cloth, hats of stylish form, always a bright carnation "just south of his chin," boots always glossy, and a smart, springy walk, had all Broadway gasping as this Apollo-vision swung jauntily along. Nancy, happy, giggling Nancy, was "all of a grin" about this magic transformation; and, with that old, inborn instinct of womanhood, told Lucy:—
"You just watch, and mark my word. A woman is in this pudding! Old Bill just couldn't boom out in such a way without having a goal in sight; and I'll put up a dollar on it."
And Lucy, also a woman, said smilingly:—
"And I'll put up a dollar and a half!"
But His Honor and Lady Gadsby, at such talk would look skyward, cough, and say:—
"Possibly a woman; and a mighty young woman, at that."
Now, if anything will "warm up" a public, it is gossip; particularly if it is about mystifying actions of a public man; and this had soon grown to a point at which a particularly curious man or woman thought of going to Old Bill and boldly asking: "Who is it?" But, as I said, what Councilman Simpkins would say to such "butting in" was known to all Branton Hills. No. Councilman Simpkins could doll up and trot around all that that portly Solon might wish; but, so to say, a sign was always hanging from his coat front, saying:—
"Hands off!!"
* * * *
Nina Adams and Virginia sat on Gadsby's porch with Nancy and Kathlyn; and Old Bill was up as a topic. Virginia, constantly smiling and inwardly chuckling, hadn't much to say about ourfrisky Councilman; and Nancy and Kathlyn couldn't fathom why. But Nina, not so backward, said:
"Pffft! If a man wants to throw old clothing away and buy stylish outfits, what affair is it, but his own? It isn't right so to pick out a man, and turn him into a laughing stock of a city. Old Bill isn't a bad sort; possibly born grouchy; but if a grouchy man or woman, (and I know abunchof that class in this town!)canpull out of it, and laugh, and find a bit of joy in living,Ithink it is an occasion for congratulations,notbooing."
"Oh," said Kathlyn, "I don't think anybody is booing Councilman Simpkins. But you know that any showing of such an innovation is apt to start gossip. Just why, I don't know. It, though, is a trait of Mankind only. Animals don't 'bloom' out so abruptly. You can hunt through Biology, Zoology or any similar study, and find but slow,—awfully slow,—adaptations toward any form of variation. Hurrying was not known until Man got around."
"My!" said Nancy, gasping, and not giggling now, "I wish thatIcould know all that you know, Kathy. As our slang puts it, 'I don't know nothin'.'"
"But, you could," said Kathlyn, "if you would only study. All through our young days,you know, with you and Bill out at a card or dancing party, you in flimsy frills, and Bill swishing around in sartorial glory,Iwas upstairs, studying. And so was Julius."
"That's right," said Nina. "I wish Virginia would study."
"Oh, Iam!" said Virginia, all aglow.
"You? Studyingwhat?"
"Aviation! Harold is going to show—"
"Now, Virginia, Harold isnot!" and Nina Adams' foot wasdown!"It's not so bad for a man to fly, but a girl—"
"But, Mama, lots of girls fly, nowadays."
"I know that,andI also knowagirl whowon't!and, just as Lucy has always known that Old Tom Young's 'no'wasa no, just so had Nina Adams brought up Virginia."
"But," said Kathlyn, "this sky-shooting talk isn't finding out anything about Councilman Simpkins;" and Virginia said:—
"Possibly Old Bill wants to 'fly high.' I think I'll ask Harold about taking him up for a jaunt."
This, bringing a happy laugh all around, Nina said:—
"Now don't jolly poor Bill too much. Idon't know what, or who, got him to 'going social.'" And Nancy, giggling, said:—
"I put up a dollar, with Lucy's dollar-fifty that it's a woman."
"Oh, I don't know, now," said Nina. "A man isn't always trotting around on a woman's apron strings," and, as it was growing dark, Nina and Virginia got up to go.
Passing down Gadsby's front walk, a soft night wind brought back to that porch:—
"Now, Virginia,quitthis! You will stayon solid ground!"
"Aw, Ma! Harold says——"
But a big bus, roaring by, cut it short.
* * * *
Just a month from this, His Honor, sitting on his porch with his "Morning Post" ran across a short bit, just two rows of print, which had him calling "Hi!" which Lady Gadsby took as a signal for a quick trip to that porch.
"All right, Your Honor! On duty! What's up?"
Gadsby, folding his "Post" into a narrow column, and handing it to that waiting lady, said nothing. As that good woman saw that paragraph, Gadsby saw first a gasp, following that, a grin, and finally:—
"Why!Of all things! Sothat'sNina—"
That row of print said, simply:—
"By Pastor Brown, on Saturday night, in Pastor's study, Nina Adams and Councilman Simpkins."
"Why!" said Lady Gadsby, laughing, "Nina sat on this porch only last month, talking about Old Bill, but saying nothing about this! I'm going right around to hug that darling woman; forthatis what I calltact."
So, as Nina and our Lady sat talking, Nina said:
"You know that Bill and I, growing up from kids in school, always got along grandly; no childhood spats; but, still it was no 'crush' such as Youth falls into. As Bill got out of high school, I still had two rooms to go through. You also know that I wasn't a 'Miss' for long from graduation day. But Irving Adams was lost in that awful 'Titanic' calamity, and I brought up my baby in my widowhood. Bill was always sympathizing and patronizing, though all Branton Hills thought him a cast-iron grouch. But a public man is not always stiff and hard in his off hours; and Bill and I, slowly but gradually finding many a happy hour could—
"All right, you grand, luscious thing!!" and Lady Gadsby and Nina sat laughing on a couch,as in old, old school days. "And," said Nina, happily; "poor Bill's upstairs, now, putting his things around to suit him. Living for so long in a small lodging all his things staid in a trunk. A lodging-room always has various folks around, you know, and a man don't lay his things out as in hisownroom. So—"
"Nina," said Lady Gadsby; "do you know what brought him out of his old shut-in way of looking at things?"
"From just a word or two Bill drops, occasionally, I think that a child is—"
And Lady Gadsby, said; "You know our Good Book's saying about: 'And a tiny child shall——'"
Six months from thatday upon which old Mars, God of War, had angrily thrown down his cannons, tanks, gas-bombs and so on, fuming at Man's inability to "stand up to it," Gadsby's mansion was dark again. Not totally dark; just his parlor lamp, and a light or two in halls and on stairways. And so this history found Nancy and Kathlyn out on that moon-lit porch; Nancy sobbing, fighting it off, and sobbing again. Tall, studious, loving Kathlyn, sitting fondly by Nancy's tiny form, said;—
"Now, sis; I wouldn't cry so much, for I don't think that conditions, just now, call for it."
"B-b-b-but I'd stop if I could, wouldn't I?" and poor Nancy was sobbing again. "Now,wait!" and Kathlyn, uncommonly cross, vigorously shook Nancy's arm. "You can't gain athingthis way. Mama is probably all right. Oh, is that you, Daddy?"
His Honor sat down by his two girls. Gadsby was not looking good. Black rings around his always laughing orbs; a hard cast to that jovial mouth; a gray hair or two, cropping up amongst his wavy brown. But Gadsby was not old. Oh, no;far from it. Still, that stoop in walking; that odd, limp slump in sitting; that toning down in joviality, had, for six months past, had all Branton Hills sympathizing with its popular Mayor.
* * * *
Days; days; days! And, oh! thattoughpart,—nights, nights, nights! Nights of two young chaps, in full clothing, only just napping on a parlor couch. Nights of two girls nodding in chairs in a dimly,—oh,sodimly a lit room.
It got around almost to Christmas, only a fortnight to that happy day; but,—happy in Gadsby's mansion? Finally Frank took a hand:—
"Now, kid,dotry to stop this crying! You know I'm not scolding you, darling, but, youjust can'tgo on this way; andthat's that!"
"I'm tryingsohard, hubby!"
Now Nancy was of that good, sturdy old Colonial stock of His Honor and Lady Gadsby; and so, as Christmas was approaching, and many a bunch of holly hung in Broadway's big windows, and as many a Salvation Army Santa Claus stood at its curbs, Nancy's constitution won out; but a badly worn young lady was in and out of Gadsby's mansion daily; bringing baby Lillian to kiss Grandma,and riding back with Frank at about six o'clock.
* * * *
Old Doctor Wilkins, coming in on a cool, sharp night, found His Honor, Nancy, Kathlyn, Bill, Julius, Lucy, Mary, Frank and John all in that big parlor.
"Now, you bunch, it's up to you. Lady Gadsby will pull through all right," (Nancy rushing wildly to kiss him!) "it hangs now upon good nursing; and I know you will furnish that. And I will say without a wisp of a doubt, that a calm, happy room; not too many around; and—and—hmmm!! Julius, can't you hunt around in our woods that you and Kathlyn know so thoroughly, and find a tall, straight young fir; cut it down, rig it up with lights and a lot of shiny stuff; stand it up in your Ma's room, and——"
* * * *
'Tis a night, almost Christmas,And all through that roomA warm joy is stirring;No sign of a gloom.And "Ma," sitting up,In gay gown, and cap,No, no! WillnotstartOn a long wintry nap!For, out on that lawnA group of girls stand;A group singing carolsWith part of our Band.And that moon, in full vigor,Was lustrous; and lo!Our Lady is singing!Aha,nowI knowThat Nancy and KathlynAnd Julius and BillAnd also His Honor,Will sing with a will!And Old Doctor WilkinsAmidst it all stands;Smiling and nodding,And rubbing his hands;And, sliding out, slyly;Calls back at that sight:—"Happy Christmas to all;And to all a Good Night!"
'Tis a night, almost Christmas,And all through that roomA warm joy is stirring;No sign of a gloom.And "Ma," sitting up,In gay gown, and cap,No, no! WillnotstartOn a long wintry nap!For, out on that lawnA group of girls stand;A group singing carolsWith part of our Band.And that moon, in full vigor,Was lustrous; and lo!Our Lady is singing!Aha,nowI knowThat Nancy and KathlynAnd Julius and BillAnd also His Honor,Will sing with a will!And Old Doctor WilkinsAmidst it all stands;Smiling and nodding,And rubbing his hands;And, sliding out, slyly;Calls back at that sight:—"Happy Christmas to all;And to all a Good Night!"
'Tis a night, almost Christmas,And all through that roomA warm joy is stirring;No sign of a gloom.And "Ma," sitting up,In gay gown, and cap,No, no! WillnotstartOn a long wintry nap!For, out on that lawnA group of girls stand;A group singing carolsWith part of our Band.And that moon, in full vigor,Was lustrous; and lo!Our Lady is singing!Aha,nowI knowThat Nancy and KathlynAnd Julius and BillAnd also His Honor,Will sing with a will!And Old Doctor WilkinsAmidst it all stands;Smiling and nodding,And rubbing his hands;And, sliding out, slyly;Calls back at that sight:—"Happy Christmas to all;And to all a Good Night!"
'Tis a night, almost Christmas,
And all through that room
A warm joy is stirring;
No sign of a gloom.
And "Ma," sitting up,
In gay gown, and cap,
No, no! Willnotstart
On a long wintry nap!
For, out on that lawn
A group of girls stand;
A group singing carols
With part of our Band.
And that moon, in full vigor,
Was lustrous; and lo!
Our Lady is singing!
Aha,nowI know
That Nancy and Kathlyn
And Julius and Bill
And also His Honor,
Will sing with a will!
And Old Doctor Wilkins
Amidst it all stands;
Smiling and nodding,
And rubbing his hands;
And, sliding out, slyly;
Calls back at that sight:—
"Happy Christmas to all;
And to all a Good Night!"
Along about midnight a happy group sat around Gadsby's parlor lamp, as Dr. Wilkins was saying;—
"Stopping a war; that is, stopping actual military combat, is not stopping a war inallits factors. During continuous hard strain a human mind can hold up; and it is truly amazing how much it can stand. Day by day, with that war-strain of worry pulling it down, it staunchly holds aloof, as a mighty oak in facing a storm. But it has a limit!! With too much and too long strain, it willsnap; just as that mighty oak will fall, in a long fight. Lady Gadsby will avoid such a snap though it is by a narrow margin."
As this group sat in that holly-hung parlor, with that big cloth sign in big gold capitals; HAPPY CHRISTMAS, across its back wall; with horns tooting outdoors; with many a window around town aglow with tiny, dancing tallow-dip lights; with baby Lillian "all snuggling—so warm in a cot; as vision of sugar plums"—(and whyshouldn'ta baby think of sugar plums on that night, almost Christmas?); as, I say, this happy group sat around Gadsby's lamp, Mars, that grim old war tyrant, was far, far away. Upstairs, calmly snoozing on a big downy pillow, Lady Gadsby was now rapidly coming back again to that buxom, happy-go-lucky First Lady of Branton Hills.
Christmas, gay andhappy in Gadsby's mansion, was soon far, far back. A robin or two was hopping about on His Honor's lawn, looking for a squirming lunch; Lady was taking short walks with Nancy; Kathlyn having to go back to work in our big hospital. Lilac, syringa, narcissus, tulips, hyacinths burst out in a riot of bloom; and a bright warm Sun brought joy to all. And so this history found His Honor on his porch with his "Post" as a young lad, coming up, said;—"Good morning, sir. I'm soliciting funds for a big stadium for Branton Hills, which will furnish an opportunity for football, polo,——"
"Whoa!" said Gadsby, putting down his "Post" and looking critically at his young visitor. "You look a bit familiar, boy. Oho! If it isn't kid Banks; oh, pardon!—AllanBanks; son of Councilman Banks! You young folks grow up so fast I don't know half of you. Now what about this soliciting. Who is back of you?"
"Branton Hills' Organization of Youth; Part Two, sir."
"Branton Hills Org——Ha, ha! Upon my word! Who is starting this group?"
Mary, coming out from His Honor's parlor, said:—
"Oh, I forgot to notify you of this. Norman has got about fifty kids from Grammar School boys and girls, anxious to follow inyourOrganization'sfoot-prints."
Was Gadsby happy? Did Gadsby thrill? Did that long-past, happy day float in glowing colors through his mind? It did. And now that old, hard-working bunch of kids, grown up, now, and with kids of its own; that loyal bunch of young sprouts was taking root; was born again!
Oh,howYouth crawls up on you! How a tiny girl "almost instantly" shoots up into a tall, charming young woman!Howa top-spinning, ball-tossing, racing, shouting boy looms up into a manly young chap in Military School uniform! Gadsbywashappy; for, wasn't this a tonic for his spinal column? So His Honor said;—
"Allan, I think Branton Hills will officially aid this stadium plan. I'll put it up to Council."
But, Allan Banks,notKid Banks now, was just so old as to know a thing or two about Council bills; and, out as a solicitor, naturally sought a good showing on donations won, so said;—
"A Council donation will fit in grand, sir; but how about grouchy old Bill Simpk——"
"Trot along, Allan."
"But how about this stadium? I'm doubting Old B—"
"Trot along, Allan."
* * * *
What Mary had said was a fact. Norman Antor had not only fought a military war; Norman Antor had also fought aninwardwar. A war, which fought him with gallon jugs, small phials, spoons, mixing apparatus, and—a stumbling, mumblingstupor!Norman had fought with about two million lads in that military war; but now, with no aid but a strain of good blood, starting way back of his carousing Dad (but, as such traits may, skipping a notch or two, and implanting in this young lad just a grain of its old nobility of mind), was fighting again; and, just as any solitary young chap amongst that two million loyally did his part, just so was this tiny grain now doingitspart; fighting valiantly in his brain. It was giving him torturing thoughts in army night-camps, of a darling, loving young girl, a part of his own family, growing up "in a pool of liquor;" thoughts in night-camps of Branton Hills' patrol-wagon trips to jail; andDarnthat thought of Virginia! Virginiadrunkby his own hand! Ugh!!Why not chop that stinking hand off?And, on coming back to Branton Hills, watching that darling Mary in Salvation Army uniform, tramping, talking, praying for just such low-down "liquor hounds" as——.
Oh! It was an awful fight! A long, brain-racking onslaught against a villain shut in by walls of iron! But though Norman Antor's night-camp fights with Norman Antor had "put a big kick" in his wish to "lay off that stuff," just a final blow, just an awful brain-crashingblastwas still missing, so that that big right hand might point skyward, to clinch that vow. And that blast was waiting for Norman! To anybody standing around, it wasn't much of a blast; but itwas!It was a mighty concussion of T.N.T., coming as Mary, young, loving, praying Mary, said, as his arms unwound from around that frail form:—
"Why, Norman!Not drunk?"
God!!What flashing, shooting, sizzling sparks shot through his brain!! Up, out, in; all kinds of ways!!Whatcrashing bombs!!
And, that first calm night on Old Lady Flanagan's porch; that moonlit night of bliss, with soft, cuddling, snuggling, laughing, crying darling Mary!
"I say," Norman was shouting, inwardly;"that night of blisswasa night of bliss anddon't anybody try to say that it wasn't!"
For it was a night on which a young man's Soul wasback; back in its own Mind, now full of God's incomparably grandpurity!
* * * *
Lady Gadsby was visiting Nina, sitting in that big front parlor; Virginia sitting calmly rocking; (and, hmmm! That was about all Virginiaoughtto do, just now!) A young High School girl, coming in, said;—
"Good morning! I'm soliciting for funds for a stadium for——"
"Marian!" sang out Virginia, "What'sall this?You, soliciting?"
"Why not?" said Marian, brightly. "Norman Antor's Organization of Youth; Part Two, is soli—"
"Norman Antor'swhat?" and Virginia was all agog in an instant, as Marian Hopkins told all about it; and, with childish flippancy, forgot all about soliciting, saying:—
"I was told that Harold is giving flying instructions. Don'tyouwant to fly? My!Ido!"
"Idid," said Virginia, softly; "but,—notnow;" and Marian was a bit too young to know why Lady Gadsby was smiling at Nina!
As Nancy found out about this, on Lady Gadsby's coming back to lunch, that "old Branton Hills matron," as Gadsby found a lot of fun calling "his baby girl," now-a-days, said, giggling:—
"No! Virginia! You'llstay on solid ground!"
Lady Gadsby and HisHonor sat in Branton Hills' First Church, on a hot July Sunday. Out-doors, twitting birds, lacy clouds, and gay blossoms, told of happy hours in this long, bright month. Pastor Brown, announcing a hymn, said:—
"This is a charming hymn. Our choir always sings it without company; but today, I wantallyou good folks to join in. Just pour forth your joy and sing it, good and strongly."
That hymn had six stanzas; and Gadsby, noting an actuallygrandbass singing just back of him, thought of turning around, from curiosity; and as that fifth stanza was starting, said to Lady Gadsby:—
"Do you know who that is, singing that grand bass part?"
Lady Gadsby didn't; but Lady Gadsby was a woman; and, from Noah's Ark to Branton Hills' First Church, woman, as a branch of Mankind, was curious. So a slow casual turning brought a dig in His Honor's ribs:—
"It's Norman Antor!"
Pastor Brown, standing at that big churchdoor as folks, filing out would stop for a word or two, said to Gadsby:—
"Young Antor is invariably in church, now-a-days. I may add to my choir, and am thinking of putting him in it. I'm so glad to find out about that boy winning his fight. I alwaysthoughtNorman would turn out all right."
Pastor Brown was right; and two Branton Hills girls, a Salvation Army lady, and a tiny tot of six had won crowns of Glory, from throwing rays of light into two badly stagnant Minds.
Thirty-six months.That's not so long a run in daily affairs, and this Branton Hills history finds Thanksgiving Day dawning. In Branton Hill's locality it is not, customarily, what you would call a cold day. Many a Thanksgiving has had warm, balmy air, and without snow; though, also, without all that vast army of tiny chirping, singing, buzzing things on lawn or branch. But contrast has its own valuation; for, through it, common sights, vanishing annually, show up with a happy joy, upon coming back. Ah! That first faint coloring of grass, in Spring! That baby bud, on shrub or plant, shyly asking our loving South Wind if it's all right to pop out, now. That sprouting of big brown limbs on oak and birch; that first "blush of Spring" in orchards; that first furry, fuzzy, cuddly spray of pussy willows! Spring and Fall; two big points in your trip along your Pathway. Fall with its rubbish from months of labor: cornstalks, brown, dry grass, old twigs lying around, wilting plants; bright colorings blazing in distant woodlands; chill winds crawling in through windows, at night. And Spring! Pick-up, paint-up, wash-up Spring!! So, as I said, Branton Hills gotaround to Thanksgiving Day; that day on which as many of a family as possibly can should sit around a common board; coming from afar, or from only a door or two away.
Gadsby's dining-room was not big; it had always sat but six in his family. But, onthisThanksgiving Day,—hmmm! "Wait, now—uh-huh, that's it. Just run that pair of sliding doors back, put that parlor lamp upstairs; and that piano? Why not roll it out into my front hall? I know it will look odd, but you can't go through a Thanksgiving 'soup to nuts' standing up.Gotto jam in chairs, any old way!"
But who is all this mob that will turn His Honor's dining-room into a thirty-foot hall? I'll look around, as our happy, laughing, singing, clapping group sits down to Gadsby's Thanksgiving party.
I findtwo"posts of honor;" (My gracious!sofar apart!); His Honor, with carving tools filling dish, dish, and dish.
"Atta boy! Atta girl! Pass up your chow-dish! This bird has but two drum-sticks, but six of his cousins wait, out in our cook-shop! Lots of grub! What's that, Julius? A bit of dark? Want any gravy?"
At Post Two sits "Ma;" again in that goodold buxom condition, so familiar to all Branton Hills:—
"Right this way, folks, for potato, squash, onions, carrots and turnip!!"
Whata happy bunch! Following around from Gadsby, sit Bill, Lucy and Addison. But whoa! Who's this Addison? Oh, pardon; I forgot all about it. Lucy's baby; and his first Thanksgiving. Hi, you! Tut-tut! Mustn't grab raisins! Naughty, naughty! On Lucy's right sit Mary, Julius and Norman; following along, I find Nancy, Frank and Baby Lillian, Kathlyn, John, Lady Standish, Priscilla and Hubby Arthur Rankin; Nina Adams,—Oh! Athousandpardons!!—NinaSimpkins!and Old Bill. Say! You wouldn't know Bill! Bright, happy, laughing, singing, and tapping a cup with his spoon; spick-span suit, and that now famous "Broadway carnation." Hulloa, Bill; you old sport!! Glad to find you looking so happy!What?Twowhacks at that bird? Why Bill!! On Bill's right sits Pastor Brown, old Doctor Wilkins, Harold, Virginia, and Patricia. Oh, pardon again! Patricia, Virgina's baby; just six months old, today, and valiantly trying to swallow a half-pound candy cow! Following around I find Old Tom Young, Sarah, and Paul. No, I don't find a high-chair by Sarah; but Sarah sits just rocking,rocking, rocking, now-a-days. Following on, again, is Old Tom Donaldson, Clancy Dowd,and—Old Lady Flanagan, with "this dom thing I calls hoosband!" And lastly, Marian and old Pat Ryan from our railway station's trunk room.
So it was just laugh, talk, "stuff," and—
* * * *
Oh, hum! Folks can't stay all night, you know; so, finally, groups and pairs, drifting out, all had happy words for His Honor and Lady Gadsby; and His Honor, a word or two; for you know Gadsbycantalk? So it was:—
"Good night, Nina; good luck, Old Bill! Oh! say, Bill; willthatcigar blow up? Good night, Virginia; and ta-ta Patricia; and Virginia, you mind your Ma and stay down on solid ground! Aha, Clancy! You old motor-pump fan! No; that's wrong;animal-drawnpump! Good night, Pastor Brown; so glad you put Norman in your choir. And now Old Tom and Sarah! Tom, you look as young as on that day on which you brought Sarah, just a tiny, squalling, fist-waving bunch, to this porch to ask about adoption! And I know Sarah has always had a kind, loving Dad. Paul, you young sprout! Asyouturn into a daddy, soon now, you'll find that,on marrying, a man and woman start actually living. It's miraculous, Paul, that's just what it is."
And so it was; pairs and groups shaking hands and laughing, until finally a big buxom woman sang out:—
"Whoops!!It was awowof a grub-lay-out! Itwasthot! But this dom thing I calls hoosband. Say! You grub-stuffin' varmint! Phwat's that in your hat? A droom-stick, is it? Do you want His Honor to think I don't cook nuthin' for you? Goodnight, all! I'm thot full I'm almost a-bustin'!"
As Lady Standish shook hands, that worthy woman said:—
"John, what you did for Branton Hills should go into our National Library at Washington, in plain sight."
"Sally,Youth'spart was paramount in all that work. All I did was to boss;" and Old Doc Wilkins, coming out, nibbling a bunch of raisins, said:—
"Uh-huh; but a boss must know his job!"
"That's all right," said Gadsby; "but it wasyoung hands and young mindsthat did my work! Don't disqualify Youth for it will fool you, if you do!"
* * * *
A glorious full moon sails across a sky without a cloud. A crisp night air has folks turning up coat collars and kids hopping up and down for warmth. And that giant star, Sirius, winking slyly, knows that soon, now, that light up in His Honor's room window will go out. Fttt! Itisout! So, as Sirius and Luna hold an all-night vigil, I'll say a soft "Good-night" to all our happy bunch, and to John Gadsby—Youth's Champion.
FINIS
Note: Not a word containing the letter "E" has appeared in this story of over 50,000 words.
Transcriber's Note:Did any "e"s survive the publishing process? Yes, three "the"s, and one "officers"—all have been retained as published.Use of quotation marks has been standardised; otherwise punctuation, spelling, hyphenated words and grammar have been retained as they appear in the original publication except as follows:Page 61pavilion, lunch rooms; and parkings for as manychanged topavilion, lunch rooms; andparkingfor as manyPage 61all this with happy satisficationchanged toall this with happysatisfactionPage 90thought back about that lassoochanged tothought back about thatlassoPage 128on hand for his politicialchanged toon hand for hispoliticalPage 139back to that captivating lassoochanged toback to that captivatinglassoPage 142two upstairs, for wraps, mascarrachanged totwo upstairs, for wraps,mascaraPage 152If-f-f-f B-b-b-barnum's circutchanged toIf-f-f-f B-b-b-barnum'scircusPage 155around your tiny baby as softychanged toaround your tiny baby assoftlyPage 181talking. Taking about what?changed totalking.Talkingabout what?Page 195Nina coudn't stand itchanged toNinacouldn'tstand itPage 195known Nina and Virginachanged toknown Nina andVirginiaPage 255Organizations's foot-printschanged toOrganization'sfoot-prints
Transcriber's Note:Did any "e"s survive the publishing process? Yes, three "the"s, and one "officers"—all have been retained as published.Use of quotation marks has been standardised; otherwise punctuation, spelling, hyphenated words and grammar have been retained as they appear in the original publication except as follows:Page 61pavilion, lunch rooms; and parkings for as manychanged topavilion, lunch rooms; andparkingfor as manyPage 61all this with happy satisficationchanged toall this with happysatisfactionPage 90thought back about that lassoochanged tothought back about thatlassoPage 128on hand for his politicialchanged toon hand for hispoliticalPage 139back to that captivating lassoochanged toback to that captivatinglassoPage 142two upstairs, for wraps, mascarrachanged totwo upstairs, for wraps,mascaraPage 152If-f-f-f B-b-b-barnum's circutchanged toIf-f-f-f B-b-b-barnum'scircusPage 155around your tiny baby as softychanged toaround your tiny baby assoftlyPage 181talking. Taking about what?changed totalking.Talkingabout what?Page 195Nina coudn't stand itchanged toNinacouldn'tstand itPage 195known Nina and Virginachanged toknown Nina andVirginiaPage 255Organizations's foot-printschanged toOrganization'sfoot-prints
Transcriber's Note:
Did any "e"s survive the publishing process? Yes, three "the"s, and one "officers"—all have been retained as published.
Use of quotation marks has been standardised; otherwise punctuation, spelling, hyphenated words and grammar have been retained as they appear in the original publication except as follows:
Page 61pavilion, lunch rooms; and parkings for as manychanged topavilion, lunch rooms; andparkingfor as many
Page 61all this with happy satisficationchanged toall this with happysatisfaction
Page 90thought back about that lassoochanged tothought back about thatlasso
Page 128on hand for his politicialchanged toon hand for hispolitical
Page 139back to that captivating lassoochanged toback to that captivatinglasso
Page 142two upstairs, for wraps, mascarrachanged totwo upstairs, for wraps,mascara
Page 152If-f-f-f B-b-b-barnum's circutchanged toIf-f-f-f B-b-b-barnum'scircus
Page 155around your tiny baby as softychanged toaround your tiny baby assoftly
Page 181talking. Taking about what?changed totalking.Talkingabout what?
Page 195Nina coudn't stand itchanged toNinacouldn'tstand it
Page 195known Nina and Virginachanged toknown Nina andVirginia
Page 255Organizations's foot-printschanged toOrganization'sfoot-prints